Amish Quilts at the de Young Museum

 

 The exhibit catalog

After all the glitz of King Tut it was great to go upstairs for a little "comfort" art -- almost fifty Amish quilts from the late 19th and early 20th century.  Like in the Tut exhibit, I was again struck by how modern these pieces looked even though some were over a hundred years old.  This special exhibition is titled "Amish Abstractions: Quilts from the Collection of Faith and Stephen Brown" and it will be on display until June 6, 2010.  Great gift shop stuff!

Everywhere the Glint of Gold

"strange animals, statues and gold—everywhere the glint of gold."   Archeologist Howard Carter, describing his discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922.

This past Sunday I visited the de Young Museum in San Francisco where I saw the King Tut exhibit.  It was fantastic!  The treasures found in his tomb included many pieces of his household furniture, made around 1350 B.C.  Check out the imitation leopard skin campaign stool with the swan legs---too cool.

 Tutankhamun's Throne

 Cabinet with Hieroglyphic Fretwork

Royal bed

Imitation Leopard Skin Stool

Hope Chest 

Cow Mehetweret Bed Couch

Another stool

The tomb

Smash the Bourgeoisie! Victory to the Decorating Business!

 Green Engineering Object (2001)

Big Red Propeller (2001)

Transitional Monument (2004)

Artist David Mabb is described as having a posthumous collaboration with William Morris.  Mabb isn't just inspired by Morris, he incorporates Morris's work into his own.  From the on-line archives of the Victorian and Albert Museum:  "Mabb’s interest in Morris focuses not only on the design of his patterns but also the inherent contradictions between Morris’s political beliefs – he was a campaigning Socialist - and his practice as a designer and business-man – he made his living creating luxury goods that were affordable only by the upper middle-classes."

 Morris/Fruit, Rodchenko/Triple Peaks (2006)

Morris/Honeysuckle, Rodchenko/Hard Currency

  Here Mabb combines the "political philosophies and design practices" of two artists, Morris and Rodchenko, who each produced designs intended to enhance the lives of the working class.  The irony of course is that the machine-made designs of Rodchenko were far more accessible to the working class than the painstakingly hand-printed wallpapers of Morris.

More information on Mabb, and many more examples of his work, can be found on the Leo Kamen Gallery website and on the Contemporary Art Society website (a nice slideshow).  The title of this post is taken from one of Mabb's exhibitions.

12/14:  More photos of Mabb's amazing work can be found here.

Winter walk, the bog

ahead

behind

DIY - One World Map

 

the problem:  map taped to wall

the inspiration:  antique map

the process

You will need:   4 half-circle 1" diameter dowels that are 4" longer than the width of the map (any lumber yard will cut them to length for you); paint, glue (I used Elmer's wood glue); staple gun; cotton ribbon or twill tape for ties (sewing notions shop); cord for hanging (ditto); clamps.

 

Paint the rounded sides and ends of half dowels.  Then staple map along the first painted half-dowel (you only need a few staples as it will also be glued).  A "tie" is also stapled near each end on top.

 

A bead of glue is laid down along length of first dowel, then the second dowel is laid on top and clamped while glue dries.  Repeat on bottom.  When dry, remove clamps and drill two holes down through the back-side dowel and thread a hanging cord through them.

the new map!

H. H. Richardson meets book artist Angela Liguori

click to enlarge

 

Two nights ago I went to a "trunk show" hosted by artist Susy Pilgrim Waters that showcased the work of numerous talented local (Boston area) artists.  I particularly liked the work of book artist Angela Liguori, a Roman who creates beautiful pieces with paper, ink and binding.  I bought some cards made with vintage stamps featuring H. H. Richardson (see posts here and here) and another 19th century architectural star, Frank Furness.

Here are a few more examples of Angela's work from her website.

 

Angela also had an incredible collection of beautifully textured and colored ribbon, tapes, and twine for sale that she imports from Italy.  While talking with her I discovered she wrote the guide to Rome on Design*Sponge that I had coincidentally printed out months earlier (it lists artist supply and fabric shops in Rome).

Finally, here's a link to Angela's Etsy shop.

 

Stairway to heaven...

My friend and artist Julia Talcott brought me to an amazing store last Sunday---descend into the basement of 580 Mass Ave., Cambridge, and find an arts and craft paradise!

Artist & Craftsman Supply
Central Square
580 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 354-3636
www.artistcraftsman.com

William De Morgan in burgundy

It has been said that no William Morris interior would be complete without the ceramics of his friend William De Morgan.

 

One of the largest private collections of Pre-Raphaelite art in the world is held by Andrew Lloyd Webber.  In 2003, the Royal Academy of Arts, London, mounted an exhibition of his collection which included many items from the Decorative and Applied Arts (I'm not sure why I capitalized those words).  The pics above are taken from a beautiful book that was published to accompany the exhibit "Pre-Raphaelite and Other Masters - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection".

An earlier post on De Morgan ceramics can be found here.

William Morris in real life -- "Compton" wallpaper

"Compton" was designed by John Henry Deale for Morris and Co. in 1896, the year of William Morris's death.  Upon Morris's death Deale was appointed Art Director of Morris & Co. 

Ceiling plastered and painted, floors refinished, paint stripped off bricks on fireplace, woodwork given a good cleaning, wallpaper.